Departure: Pantano-Pignola
Arrival: Anzi, Santa Maria della Seta Church
Length: 27.1 km
Elevation gain: 1100 m
Elevation loss: 870 m
Travel time: 8h22m
The route starts from Contrada di Pantano (793 m), in the countryside of Pignola; to the left of the Sanctuary of the Madonna degli Angeli, take the Crocetta municipal road that climbs towards the village of Pignola; the first 800 m are quite challenging, but then the village is easily reached. Here you can admire the splendid stone portals of the historic buildings of Pignola (894 m). From Via Mazzini, take the path heading east towards the Rifreddo-Pignola road, which you follow for about 400 m before turning right (km 3.24) onto path 538, marked by a beautiful forest of young oak trees. The route climbs uphill and at km 4.4, where you need to turn left onto the 'Dente del diavolo' (Devil's Tooth), the slopes become more challenging, reaching 1200 m at the junction with the path that leads to Serra di Rifreddo, which you need to leave on your right as the Seta route continues straight on towards Valico di Rifreddo (1170 m). Here there are two accommodation facilities where you can stop for refreshments. After about 400 m on the SS92, turn right towards Rifreddo at km 6.97. When you reach a square with a disused bar, continue along the fence of the old military area and after about 200 m, at the bend, turn left to take one of the most beautiful and secluded paths of the Way, set in a wonderful and unexpected beech forest.
At km 8.51, at the junction with the paved road, turn left for about 800 m, crossing the SS92 at the historic Croce dello Scrivano pass. Here, head towards Parco della Grancia, continuing on the paved road for 1.8 km, after which you turn right onto the dirt path that descends among the oak trees, a pleasant landscape where it is easy to encounter grazing flocks. At km 13.1, the vegetation thins out near a rest area and then returns to frame the path. At km 13.9, keep left at the fork and continue slightly downhill until km 15.5, where you turn right onto path 511. At km 18.1, you pass the crossroads on an open track that crosses the cultivated countryside of Anzi and at km 19.9, you turn left onto the paved road that from km 22.8 (662 m) begins to climb towards the town. The ancient town of Anxia is reached by turning right at km 26.1 and making the final effort, which, through picturesque streets and stairways in the historic centre of the town, up to the Planetarium and the Church of Santa Maria della Seta on Monte Siri (1024 m), which offers the spectacle of Todisco's frescoes (16th century) and an immense panorama that repays every effort.
